Clarifying device



May 1, 1945.

s. w. BIRIGGSIETAL GLARIFYING DEVICE Filed June 26, 1942 2 S heets -Sheet 1 h a/fer 6.5mm) anal Wa/ferj. [Z/Mn/r y 1, 1945- s w. was ETAL 2,374,976

CLARIFYING DEVICE Fild June 26, 1942 2 Sheets-Shea; 2

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Patented May 1, 1945 UNITED- STATES Parr-1N1- ammo commune navics Sonthwick W. Briggs. Washington, D. 0., and Walter 0. Bauer. Chevy Chase. and Walter J. Ewbanh, Kensington, Mil; said Bauer and said Ewbank assign orsto Washington, D. O.

Briggs n Application June so, iasz, Serial No. aces scum. (CL 21%!!!) tioned within said openings and extending into This invention relates to apparatus'for claritying or purifying fluids and more particularly has and purification of lubricating oils in which a plurality of filter elements are mounted and sereference to such a device for theclarification cured within spaced openings in a'partition dividing a chamber into several compartments.

In the construction of apparatus of the type to tion relates, tubular filter elements mounted on supporting means are inserted within openings in a partition dividing a'chamber into a compartment for receiving oil to be filtered and a compartment containing the filtered oil. The means carrying the filter elements are pressed into openings within the partition by screws carried by bridging elements secured to the partition. The custom has been to provide a separate bridge purifying and clarifyinz 1 for each of the filter elements. While this method of construction has some advantages,

- nevertheless, considerable efiort is required in placing the filter units in position and considerable material and a large number of parts are required for apparatus. I

Anobject of this invention is to provide a clarilying or purifying apparatus in which the filter elements are mounted and retained. in position withln the apparatus in a manner-which will overcome the objections tothe prior art construction.

Another object of this'invention is to provide a clarifying apparatus comprising achamber wall having a plurality of openings for receiving a plurality of filter elements and means; common which the present inventhe construction ofthe complete the compartment containing liquid to be filtered. an annular disc securedto said partition in spaced relation theretowithin the compartment for receiving filtered liquid, and screw means carried byi said annular disc for engazins the filter c r ing members for pressing the openings in said partition,

1 A still further object of this invention is to provide a clarifying apparatus having a chamber divided into a compartment for receivlngoil to be clarified and a compartment for receiving clarified oil, said partition having a plurality of openings therein arranged in an inner circular: grou and an outer circular group, a plurality of I v filter elements, means carrying said filter elements and mounted within said openings, an an-' nular disc secured to said partition in spaced relation thereto within the compartment for re- .ceiving filtered 011, said disc having inner and outer circularly arranged groups of threaded openings coinciding with the openings containing the filter elements, and screw means ,positioned in said threaded openings and adjustable ments into sealing engagement tion.

to all of said filter elementsior pressing said divided by a partition into a-compartment' for receiving liquid to be clarified and a compartmeni; for receiving clarified liquid, said partition having a plurality of openings arranged in the form of a circle, a plurality of tubular filter elements mounted on supporting members pool-l5 ssin the means carrying .the filter elefor pre 8 with-said Darn I With these and other objects in view; which may appear incident to the present invention, the latter resides in the parts and combinations hereinafter described and illustrated in the) draw;

s and broadly'comprises means comm n rii urality of filter elements supported in apertures of a wall for pressing the carrying means for said filter elements into sealing engagement with said wall In order'to more fully illustrate" the present invention, embodiments of the same have been. shown in the accompanying drawings in which: t

Figure 1 is a plan view ofva clarifying apparatus constructed-in accordance with the present invention and having the top cover removed therefrom.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that.of Figure 1 illustrating a modified form of clarifying apparatus embodying the principle of the present invention.

Figure 4 is 'a vertical sectional viewrtaken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

A clarifying or purifying apparatus particu- 1311! suitable for the clarification of lubricating oil for use in internal combustion engines is illustrated ln'the As showmthe apparatus the same within these members have openings corresponding to the openings formed in the flange 5 and the openings in the annular member 8 are threaded to receive screws 9 by means of which a domeshaped cover I0 is secured to the upper flange 5. A centraLopening is provided in the cover l0 and is closed by a plug Adjacent the upper portion of the chamber i.

the annular disc 36 and the partition [2 are spacing elements 28. Suitable nuts 39 threaded on the studs 31 serve to securely fix the annular disc 36 in spaced relation to the partition l2.

Annular disc 36 has a plurality of threaded openings formed therein, the centers of which coincide with the centers of openings i9. Posi' tioned within the openings in the disc 36 are the screws 40 and these are turned down to engage the upper ends of the rods 22 which serve to press the flanged portion 2| of the plates 2|! into sealing engagement with the portions of the parthere is provided a partition l2 which divides the chamber into a lower compartment |3 for receiving oil to be filtered and an upper compartment 4 which receives the filtered oil. An inlet fitting I5 is provided for the suppy of oil into the compartment i3 and a sludge discharge valve I6 is provided near the lower portion of saidcompartment i3 for discharging sludge therefrom. A discharge fitting I1 is provided in the upper portion of chamber i above the partition I2 for the discharge of filtered oil from the com partment I4.

A reinforcing rod or tube i8 extends through a central opening in the partition i2 and through a similar opening in the bottom 2 of the chamber I. The partition and bottom of the chamber are welded to said rod or tube so as to reinforce the partition I 2.

Partition I2 is provided with a plurality of openings l3 which are arranged in circular formation. Mounted in each of the openings I9 is a plate which has a flange portion 2| of a diameter greater than that of the openings i9. Each of the plates 20 has a central aperture through which extends a rod 22 threaded at both ends and provided at its upper end with a nut 23 and at its lower end with a nut 24. A disc 25 is mounted on the lower end of the rod 22 and has a resilient element 26 interposed between the same and the nut 24. Positioned between the upper plate 20 and the lower disc 25 is a filter element 21 which comprises a perforated metal tube 28 surrounded by a layer of cellulosic filtering material 29 which in turn is surrounded by a porous layer of ceramic material such as bauxite 30. Completing the filter is an outer layer of cellulosic material 3i. The complete filter may be surrounded by an open mesh net-like fabric (not shown) for maintaining the same in assembled form.

The lower face of plate 20'has a tubular extension 32 depending therefrom and the lower disc tubular extensions 23 and 33 are of an exterior diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the perforated tube 28 and serves to support a helical coil spring 34 so as to properly center the filter element with relation to the plate 20 and the disc 25.

Plate 20 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 35 which afford communication between the interior of the tubular filter element and the compartment 4.

The plates 20 carrying the tubular filter elements are positioned within the openings i9 and the annular disc 36 is secured in place by means of studs 31 which are received in threaded openings" intermediate the openings l9 as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. Interposed between tition i2 surrounding the opening l9.

The structure described above will efiectively position the filter elements in proper relation within the compartment l3 and will eiiect a seal between the plates 20 and the partition l2 which will insure effective operation of the apparatus.

Partition 2 is provided with an opening equipped with a by-pass valve 4| which is loaded by a spring 42 and is adapted to open when the rate of flow-through the filter elements is reduced to such an extent as to create an excess pressure in the compartment l3. When this occurs the valve 4| will open and bypass the flow directly into compartment l4. I

The concept of the present invention is applicable to clarifying apparatus embodying more than four filter elements such. as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawingsl, For instance, in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings an apparatus is shown provided with twelve filter elements which are arranged in two groups, i. e. an inner circular group and an outer circular group. The apparatus shown in Figures 3 and 4 is slightly different from that shown in Figures 1 and 2 in that the.

indicated by reference character i'l' by means of which the tube [8' may be connected to discharge means. In this form of the apparatus the liquid to be filtered is introduced through an inlet fitting l5 and the sludge is withdrawn from a discharge outlet It.

The principal difference between Figures 3 and 4 and Figures 1 and 2 resides in the fact that the partition |2' separating the compartments i3 and I4 is provided with twelve openings in each of which is mounted a plate 20' carrying filter elements constructed in substantially the same manner as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. While in Figure 2 of the drawings one filter ele ment has been 'shown positioned between the plates 20 and 25, it is desirable in the larger apparatus shown in Figure 4 of the drawings to provide a pair of filter elements stacked end to end between the plates 25 and 20'.

The filter elements in the apparatus shown in Figures 3 and 4 are mounted in assembled position by screws 40' which are threadedly mounted in two concentric groups of circularly arranged openings in an annular disc 36' which in turn is secured in place to the partition l2 by means of studs 31' on which nuts 39' and spaces 38' are mounted.

The function and operation of the structure shown in Figures 3 and 4 is substantially identical to that shown in Figures 1 and 2. Due to the different arrangement of the discharge outlets ii, the filtered liquid is discharged outwardly apparatus.

iound desirable to cover the upper end oi the tube It witha strainer 43.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a novel, simple and easily, assembled and disassembled arrangement i'or maintaining the filter elements in-position in a clarifying or purifying relation to and on the exterior of said wall, and

means engaging said plate for pressing allot said filter elements into said aperlaires.

2. A clarifying apparatus comprising a cham her having a supporting wall provided with a plurality of spaced openings therein the centers of which are arranged in the form of acircle, a plurality of filter elements extending through said openings, cooperating means on' the wall and filter elements for limiting insertion of the elements through the openings, 9, disc removably secured in spaced relation to and on the exterior of said wall, said disc having its center coinciding with the center of said circle in which the openings lie, and a plurality or means carried by said disc for engaging and pressing said filter elements into said openings.

3. A clarifying apparatus comprising a chamher having a supporting'wall having a circularly arranged group'of openings therein, a plurality of filter elements, means carrying said filter elements and mounted in said openings, said means rled by said disc and engaging the means carrying the filter elements for retaining them in said openings.

4. A clarifying apparatus comprising a chamber having a supporting wall having a circularly arranged group 01' openings therein, a plurality of filter elements; means carrying said filter elements and mounted in said openings, said means limiting insertion oi the elements through the openings, an annular disc, means intermediate adjacent openings for removably securing said disc inspaced relation on the exterior of said supporting plate, the center or said disc coinciding with the centertof the circle in which the openings are arranged and the diameter of said disc exceeding the diameter of said circle, and screws carried by said disc and engaging the means carrying the filter elements for retaining them in said openings.

5. A 'clarifying apparatus comprising a chamher having a supporting wall having an inner circularly arranged group of' openings and an E" outer circularly arrangedgroup of openings the two groups of circularly arranged openings being concentric, means carrying said filterelements and mounted in said openings, said means having portions cooperating with the wall for J assure. through the discharge outlet tube II. it has been having portions cooperating with the wall for adisc,meansintermcdiate sdiscentope'ningstor rcsnovalily securing said disc in spaced relation to and on the exterior or said supporting plate, the

5 center of said .disc coinciding with the center of the concentric circles in which the openings are arranged and the diameter oi-said disc exceeding the diameter oi the circle oi. the outer group of openings. n screws carried by said disc and en-' gaging each of the means carrying the filter elements for retaining them in said openings.

' 6. A clariiying apparatus comprising a chamher having a supporting wall having aninner circularly arranged group oi openings and an outer circularly arranged group of openings the two groups oi circularly arranged openings bein concentric, means carrying said filter elements and mountedin said openings, said means having,

portions cooperating with the wall for limiting insertion oi the elements through the openings, an annular disc, means intermediate the two groups oi openings for removably securing said disc in spaced relation to the supporting plate on the exterior thereoi,.the center of said annular disc coinciding with the center of the concentric circles in which the openings are arranged, the exterior diameter of said annular disc exceeding the diameter 01 the circle containing the outer groups of openings and the interior diameter or said annular disc being less than the diameter of the circle in which the inner group oi openings are arranged,'and means carried by said disc and en agin each of the means carrying the filter elements for retaining them in said openings.

35 7. A clarifying apparatus comprising a chambe:- having a partition wall therein dividing the chamber into a compartment for receiving fiuid to be filtered and a compartment for receiving filtered fluid, said partition havinga plurality of apertures therein, a plurality of filter elements mounted in said apertures and extending into the compartment for receiving liquid to be filtered,

cooperating means -on the partition and filter elements for limiting insertion of the elements in spaced relation to and on the exterior of said ,partition and means carried by said plate for engaging each oi said filter elements and pressing the same into said apertures. rv

her having a partition wall therein, dividing the chamber into a compartment for receiving fluid to be filtered and a compartment for receiving filtered fluid, said partition having a plurality of apertures therein, said apertures being arranged in said partition in the i'orm oi a circle, a plur'ality oi filter elements, means carry l said filter elements and mounted in said openings, cooperating means on the partition and filter elements forlimiting insertion of'the elements through the openingsln said partition, an annular disc, .mea'nsintermediate adjacent openings for re- I movably securing said disc in spaced relation to said partition within the compartment containing filtered liquid, the center of said disc coinciding with the center of said circle in which the apertures are arranged, the exterior diameter of said disc exceeding the diameter of said circle and 9. A clarifying apparatus comprising a'chamher having a partition wall therein, dividing the insertion oi-the elements through tlie through the apertures, a plate removablysecured 8. A clariiying apparatus comprising a chami chamber into a compartment for receiving fluidthrough the apertures in the partition, an annular disc removably secured to the partition in spaced relation thereto within the compartment containing filtered fluid, said disc having a Plurality of circularly arranged threaded openings the centers of which coincide with those of the openings in said partition, and screws threadedly mounted in said threaded openings for engaging each of the means carrying the filter elements 10 for pressing the same into said apertures.

SOUTHWICK W. BRIGGS. WALTER C. BAUER. WALTER J. EWBANK. 

